Combined ambulance-stretcher and hospital-chair.



. I PATENTED SEPT. 3, 190.7. G. B. BENSINGER 6: F, L. THOMAS. COMBINED AMBULANCE STRBTGHER AND HOSPITAL CHAIR.

APPLICATION PILED OG'IHII, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.,

I Q/Vibwowa' Nara! WASHINGTUN, n. c

PATENTED sEPT. 3,1907; c. E. BENSINGBR & F. L. THOMAS.

GOMBINED AMBULANCE STRBTGHER AND HOSPITAL CHAIR.

APPLIOATION FILED 061211, 1906. 2 SHBETS-SHBET 2.

nozuto'nigf 11 cacao W 7 m Gummy us NORRIS PEYERS cm, wnsmncrorv. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

CHARLES E. BENSINGER AND FRANK L. THOMAS, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED AMBULANCE-STRETCHER AND HOSPITAL-CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1907.

Application filed October 11, 1906. $erial No. 338,374.

as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention has reference to combined ambulance stretcher-s and hospital chairs, and is so constructed as to be readily convertible from one of such devices to the other.

It is particularly adapted to the removal of a patient from an ambulance to a hospital, or other building, it being possible to change the invention from a stretcher into a chair, convenient for conveyance up or down Stairways, without removing the patient therefrom. The device can also be used as an invalid or reclining chair, and is capable of being folded up into a small compass for the purpose of storage or transportation.

It possesses other novel and advantageous features, which will more fully appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective, showing our invention in position for use as a stretcher. Fig. 2 is a similar view, with the device supported in elevated position. Fig. 3 is a detail, showing the means for holding the back in adjusted positions. Fig. 4 is a perspective, with the device in position as a chair. Fig. 5 illustrates the method of folding the chair into a compact space. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail, showing the method of attaching the leg-support to the seat. I Fig. 7 is a detail, showing the inner face of one of the arms 9. Fig. 8 is a detail, showing the means for locking the legs 27 from movement. l

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Our invention consists primarily of a seat, back, and leg support, the seat being formed by a frame 1, the back by a frame 2, and the leg portion by a frame 3, each of such parts being suitably upholstered in its central portion to support the body of the occupant. The frames 1 and 2 are hingeably secured to one another at each side, as at a a, permitting the movement of the back upwardly. The frame 3 is also hingeably attached to the frame 1, in the manner hereinafter described, so as to permit the leg support to swing downwardly with reference to the seat. Rigidly secured to the outer end of the leg support is a foot-rest 4, provided with a pair of hand holes 5 5, and the outer or upper end of the frame 2 is similarly provided with hand holes 6 6. By this means the stretcher can be easily carried by two persons.

To each edge of the seat 1 is fixed a semi-circular rack 7, each of such racks having on its outer face a series of corrugations 8. On the outside of the racks 7 a'pair of arms 9 is pivotally secured at the points a, each of said arms having on its inner face corrugations 10 adapted to engage the corrugations 8 on the racks. The outer ends of the arms 9 are united by a rod 11, passing through perforations in such arms and through the frame 2,. one end of such rod being threaded and provided with a thumb-screw 12. By the loosening of such thumb-screw the arms 9 may be disengaged from the racks, and the back moved upwardly or downwardly to any desired position, in which position it can be locked by again tightening the thumb-screw, and drawing the parts together.

The invention is provided with a pair of arms 13, having secured to their inner faces metal strips 14, the rear ends of which are bent downwardly into plates 15, which are pivotally attached to the sides of the frame 2, as at b b. The forward ends of the strips 14 are bent downwardly into plates 16, which are pivotally secured to the ends of links 17, attached to the edges of the frame 3. The upper ends of the links 17 are bent rearwardly, so that when the device is fully open, as shown in Fig. 1, the pivotal points of such links are below the edge of the seat. As a result, the arms 13 are at all times parallel with the frame of the seat, in any position which the device may be in. The downward movement of the links 17 is limited by stops 18, fixed to the lower face of the frame 1, and the links can be locked from upward movement, when in this position, by thumb-nuts 19 secured to the upper face of such frame.

The arms 13 are provided at their ends with handles 20, integral with such arms, which handles permit the support of the patient by additional carriers, in the case of a heavy person being carried, it being possible for one or two bearers to assist on each side of the a stretcher, in addition to those at the ends.

Fixed to the lower side of the back is a pair of short legs 21, provided with ball rollers 22, and secured to the lower side of the leg support is a similar pair of legs 23, provided with rollers 24. The legs 21 are provided with braces 25, fixed at one end to such legs and at the other end to the frame 2. By the use of such legs the stretcher can be easily rolled in upon the floor of the ambulance or removed therefrom, the shortness of the legs limiting the height to which the stretcher has to be lifted to clear the floor of the ambulance or other vehicle.

Hinged to the lower face of the frame 1, so as to open downwardly are two pairs of legs 26 and 27 the legs 26 being united by a cross-piece 28, and the legs 27 by a cross-piece 29. When the device is used as a stretcher these last-named legs are folded up beneath the seat, the legs 21 and 23 being of sufficient length to prevent such folded legs coming in contact with the floor. The legs 26 can be locked in either open or folded position by means of a rod 30, pivotally attached to one of the legs 26 at one end, and at the other bent outwardly to engage the slot 31 of a bracket 32, secured to the frame 1. The end of the rod 30 is threaded and provided with a thumb-nut 31, by means of which it can be held at any point in the rack 32. The legs 27 are similarly provided with locking means, comprising a rod 34,'pivotally attached to one of such legs, and engaging a slotted bracket 35, fixed to the frame 1. The end of the rod 34 is provided with a thumb-nut 36.

In Fig. 2 the device is shown in use as a stretcher, but supported in an elevated position by the legs 26 and 27. In this position the device can be temporarily supported while being borne from one point to another,

or on an elevator, or the patient can be subjected totreatment, or, if necessary, operated upon. The legs 26 are inclined away from the legs 27, when open, so that the feet thereof are supported at points in rear and front of such legs, respectively. The inclination of the legs 26 is greater than that of the legs 27, as the greater weight is at that end of the stretcher, and tipping thereof is thereby prevented.

In Fig. 4 our invention is shown in use as a chair, for conveying the patient up or down steps or flights of stairs. For this purpose the legs 26 are kept folded, so as not to come in contact with the steps, and the legs 21 are utilized as handles by the carrier in the rear, who is always ahead in ascending, and behind in descending the stairs. The other bearer makes use of the hand-holes 5 in the foot-rest, the relative position of such footrest and the legs 21 being such as to retain the seat 2 in a substantially horizontal position. If more convenient to do so, the rear handles 20 of the arms can be used in place of the legs 21.

When in the position shown in Fig. 4 the device can be readily converted into a chair by dropping the legs 26 so as to furnish rear supports, as shown in broken lines. The back can be supported in any desired position, the lowering of the back operating through the arms 13 and links 17 to correspondingly raise the leg support 3. When adjusted to the new position, it is held therein by the clamping mechanism hereinbefore described.

In Fig. 5 the parts are shown folded together, the back being folded forwardly upon the seat, and the leg support swung upwardly beneath the same. In this position the parts can again be locked together by means of series of corrugations 37 on the racks 7, engaged by the corrugations 10 on the arms 9. Instead of hinging the frames of the seat 1 and leg support 3 immediately to each other, such frames are provided on their inner faces, with cross-pieces 38 and 39, respectively, which cross-pieces are secured to each other, at their outer edges, by means of hinges 40, permitting the swinging of the leg support upwardly into line with the seat, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the device is folded, as shown in Fig. 5, the cross-pieces 38 and 39 are interposed between the seat 1 and leg-support 3, thereby affording a space between said seat and leg support in which the legs 27 are accommodated. The width of the leg support is somewhat less than that of the seat, and the legs 26 are beyond the outer edges of such support when the device is folded.

In use, our device is intended to be carried in an ambulance, in position as a stretcher. When necessary to remove a person thereby, it is removed, and the patient placed thereon. It is then replaced in the ambulance, and, if desired, the handles 20 can be utilized for suspending the stretcher above the floor of the vehicle, so as to minimize the amount of jar consequent upon the movement thereof. Upon arrival at the hospital, or other destination, the stretcher is removed from the vehicle, and, without removal of the patient, the device converted into the chair, for use in the manner hereinbefore set forth. While the change is being effected, the device can be supported on the legs 26 and 27 Great difficulty has heretofore been encountered in removing a patient from the ambulance to a building, which has usually been accomplished in an ambulance basket or litter of like inflexible character. It will be seen that by the use of our device these difficulties are eliminated. In removing a person from a building to an ambulance, the operation above set forth is reversed, the device being used as a chair in descending stairs on the inside or outside of the building, and being then converted into a stretcher. When used as a stretcher the arms 13 and handles 20 provide railings at the sides thereof, to prevent the accidental fall of the patient therefrom, and the use of the plates 15 and 16 for the support of the arms 13, causes such arms to be elevated to a convenient height for the support of the arms of the invalid, when such device is used as a chair.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a combined ambulance stretcher and hospital chair, the combination of the seat 1, provided at its forward edge with a pair of folding gs 27, and at its rear edge with a pair of folding legs 26; means for locking the legs 27 in open or closed position; similar means for locking the legs 26 in open or closed position; the back 2, hingeably secured to the seat 1, and provided at its outer end with hand-holes 6; the leg-support 3, hingeably secured to the seat 1 a foot-rest 4, fixed to such leg-support, and provided with the hand-holes 5; a pair of links 17, fixed to the sides of the leg-support; a pair of strips 14, provided at their rear ends with plates 15, pivotally secured to the back 2, and at their front ends with the plates 16, pivoted to the free ends of the links 17 the legs 21, fixed to the back 2, and provided with rollers 22; the

legs 23, fixed to the leg-support 3, and provided with rollers 24; and means for locking the back 2 in adjusted position with reference to the seat 1; substantially as and for the purpose mentioned.

2. In a combined ambulance stretcher and hospital chair, the combination of the seat 1, provided at its forward edge with a pair of folding gs 27, and at its rear edge with a pair of folding legs 26; means for locking the legs 27 in open or closed position; similar means for locking the legs 26 in open or closed position; the hack 2, hingeably secured to the seat 1, and provided at its outer end with hand-holes 6; means for locking the back 2 in adjusted position with reference to the seat 1 the leg-support 3, hingeably secured to the seat 1; the foot-rest 4 fixed to such le -support, and provided with hand-holesS; a pair of links 17, fixed to the sides of the leg-support 3, a pair of arms 13, supported at their rear ends by plates 15, pivotally attached to the back 2, and plates 16, pivotally secured to the links 17; handles 20. fixed to the ends of the arms 18 and lneans for slidahly supporting the de vice when in position as a stretcher, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a device of the class named, the combination of the seat 1, provided at its forward edge with a pair of folding legs 26, and at its rear edge with a pair of folding legs 27; means for locking the legs 27 in open or closed position; similar means for locking the legs 26 in open or closed position; the hack 2, hinged to the seat 1, and provided with rollers 22; the leg-support 3, hingeably secured to the seat 1, and provided with the rollers 24; a pair of racks 7, fixed to the sides of the seat 1, and provided with corrugations 8 and 37; the arms 9, pivoted to the sides of the racks 7, and provided on their inner faces with corru- 15 port when the back is lowered, and lower the same upon 20 the hack being raised, substantially as shown and set forth. In testimony whereof, we aiiix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. BENSINGER. FRANK L. THOMAS. Witnesses CHAS. H. WoonBURN, R. W. E. MITCHELL. 

